Preface 

My aim in writing this compilation is to preserve the memory of the men and women and their children who came from all over Australia and in some cases overseas to become the Pioneer Community of Munglinup Western Australia.

Locations 725, 726, 727, 728 and 729 Torradup

John Tyrrell Kelman (dec) with his wife Florence nee McClymont and brother Bruce Tyrrell Kelman (dec) arrived 1957 from the Richmond area of Queensland. John and Bruce were the brothers of Helen Compagnoni. John's son Thomas John Kelman helped construct the first School in 1960.  Locations 727,728 and 729 were later sold on as Conditional Purchase Blocks. John Kelman was a Esperance Councillor for a number of years. 

John Kelman employed and encouraged many of the early settlers and made a big contribution to the district. He even employed me as a 10 year old Shed Hand back in 1966 for £1 per day and paid me in $$$'s on the 14th February. I still have the Readers Digest Encyclopedia I bought with my pay check.  

Between 1968 and 1973 Torradup was managed by Clive Napier with his wife Wendy and children Ann and Brian.  Clive was very active in the development of the Golf Club.

Telephone: Munglinup 8 D, K and U and Out Station 7

Location 729 Newleigh 

William John (Jack) Compagnoni was born May 23 1909 in Roma Queensland and died in Esperance Aug 24 2000. His Remains were scattered on Newleigh. His wife was Helen Tyrrell Compagnoni nee Kelman. Children were Joan, Tom and Tim. They came to Munglinup from Queensland buying the land from Bruce Tyrrell Kelman arriving on 5 December 1957.

Jack and Helen were great contributors to the district and were loved by all. Jack helped build the first School in 1960. Helen was the main advocate for a school being established at Munglinup in early 1960.

Telephone: Munglinup 5

Location 728 Stuart Downs

Originally part of Torradup and owned by PP Thring of South Australia and managed by Reginald Phillip Brooks who was born in Denial Bay South Australia (1922-1990). His wife was Lorna Brooks nee Coad and their children were William Rodney aka Bill (1947-1999), Sharon and Kempley. The family was from Keith in South Australia and arrived around 1964.

Reg was a great community man and helped establish both the Football and Cricket clubs at Munglinup.

Later managed 1971-1973 by Warren and Gaynor Ingerson from South Australia. Children Tania and Kelly. 

Telephone: Munglinup 9

The Conditional Purchase Blocks

The first allocation of Conditional Purchase blocks was September 1958 and was for blocks east of the Munglinup River. In October 1959 the blocks to the west were released. All of this land to the west had been handed back to the State Government by the Chase Syndicate as it wasn't land they wanted included in their option of 1.5million acres in the Esperance region.

Conditional Purchase (CP) Scheme – a WA state program that allocated bush blocks to established and prospective farmers under specific terms of purchase and time-tables of development. The Munglinup blocks were allocated for about seven and a half Shillings per acre and you had 20 years to pay the land off. Freehold could be obtained by clearing 10% of the land per year until it was half cleared and boundary fenced.The Land Act 1933 scheme for conditional purchase leases over agricultural land has been discontinued. There have been no releases under this scheme since the 1970s, when stocks of Crown land suitable for farming were exhausted. 

Many blocks were allocated and never taken up so were handed in and reallocated to Munglinup Pioneers.

Below are some of the original information papers issued to selectors by the Lands Department. 

Springdale Road

Location 720 Minnikin

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Richard Goodwin Keats and Flora McClymont Keats of Julia Creek, North Queensland. Flora was John Kelman’s daughter and her husband Richard decided to sell the property Minnikin to Richard Ainsworth (Dick) Kitchen (dec 1979) and his wife Elizabeth from NSW. Children were Anne and Tom and step daughters Sue and Anne.

Location 721

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Malcolm Stirling Hosier and Margaret Mary Hosier of Cathedral, Winton, Queensland. Margaret was also John Kelman’s daughter and the block  was sold on to Syd Miller a Vet from Queensland. Kelman worked the block for him in partnership.

Location 717 Blue Waters

Allocated 16 September 1958 to James Samuel (Jim) Samson of Turramurra, NSW. Later became part of Blue Waters. Fergie and Jean Smart nee Kinch from South Australia with their children Bill and Christine were early Managers. Later Arlie and Robyn Carter nee Samson managed this property.

Telephone: Munglinup 23D

Location 716 Nerida

Allocated 16 September 1958 to John Charles Moor and Betty Moor c/- Post Office Esperance, WA. They sold what is now Blue Waters to James Samuel (Jim) Samson who had been allocated the block next door Location 717. John along with Jack Compagnoni, Phil Doyle, Peter Standish, Mike Spencer, Charlie Dunn and Tom Kelman built the first School.

Telephone: Munglinup 19D

Location 710

Allocated 16 September 1958 to John Colin Vagg of Oxley, NSW.

Re-Allocated in May 1961 to George Rowland Allison and his wife Violet May.

Children June, Roslyn, Stephen, Ian, Dianne and David.

George was a farmer and builder and built part of the school extensions.

Telephone: Munglinup 28

Location 715 Nangarup Farm

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Kenneth Richard Fuss and Kenneth Albert Fuss of York, WA. Old Ken was born Moonta SA 1906 and died 1988. They arrived in 1959 and were one of the earliest settlers. Ken is buried at Munglinup with his son Kenneth Albert (1936-2009) and daughter Cheryl Ann (1957-2005) and his wife Elsie Ivy nee Sprigg (1916 - 2012). Their daughter Margaret Pickersgill survives them.

Old Ken always had a "Rolly" hanging from his lip. After his father died the farm was run by Albert until his death in 2009. My favourite memory of Albert was playing football with him on one occasion at Jerdacuttup, he was playing fullback, and the umpire yelling out to him during the game "Put that cigarette out!".

Telephone: Munglinup 19U

Location 719 Strandheim

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Reidar Erling (Ray) Floan (1932-1996) and wife Patricia Ruth Floan of Lauriana, Esperance, WA. They had three children Astrid, Konrad and Karla. They arrived April 1962. Ray was an ex Norwegian Merchant sailor and earlier in 1957 he managed Lauriana for Jim Samson. Pat was from Walgett in Northern NSW. His property held the first game of golf played at Munglinup organised by Geoff Jamieson.

Telephone: Munglinup 17

Location 714

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Robert Vincent Gillett (1910 - 1959) and Margaret Jane nee Shaw (1914-1993) of York, WA and originally from Victoria. Their children were  Douglas Russell Gillett (1945 - 2012) and Joan Gillett (now Gillette). Later on Doug owned another farm on River Road north of Munglinup and a house on the townsite at 34 Manjart Street. A recollection from Joan Gillett of her family's early days in Munglinup can be found HERE.

Telephone: Munglinup 15U

The 3 photos below are of Robert Vincent and Margaret Jane Gillett, Joan with Doug Gillett at Munglinup 1959 and Location 714 c1959.

 The property was sold in 1970 to Robert William Meredith (Bob) Gilmore (1920-1999) and wife Beryl Lily nee Howard (1926 - 2012) children John, Doug, Ross, Coral, Denise and Heather. John was seriously wounded in Vietnam serving his country but went on to play footy and basketball for Munglinup. Doug was a Football Umpire for the Ravensthorpe Association. Arrived February 1970.

Location 713 Emref Downs

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Duncan Laurence (Laurie) and Malcolm George Ferme of Netherton via Peake in South Australia.

Malcolm left the property early on to drive a truck and delivered the bricks for the Munglinup Church. Arrived in 1960.

Telephone: Munglinup 15D

Location 727 Loughrea

Dr Michael (Mick) Connaughton AM. Managed by 1968 by Barry Martin and wife Lorraine. Was originally part of Torradup but commenced operation in the Mid 60’s. 

Telephone: Munglinup 23U

Fuss Road

Location 705 Singing Winds

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Marsey Charles Hunter of Montacute, SA.

Later sold to Don and Henrietta MacKenzie from Kenya. Children Duncan, Graham and Sheila.

Location 707

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Gerhard Anton Frey (1931 - 2014) of Normanville , SA and Heinz Egeler (1929 - ?) of Unley, SA. Ger arrived in Melbourne on the SS Anna Salen on 18 April 1953 from Germany. Heinz born 11 November 1929 was a Toolmaker and arrived in Fremantle 20 March 1953 on the SS Roma from Stuttgart Germany. They arrived at Munglinup around 1960. Heinz left Munglinup and returned to Germany and married later returning to live in South Australia. Ger employed many of the local youth on weekends and during school breaks.

Telephone: Munglinup 10

Josephine Graham has contributed the following story about Ger's early life in Australia.

"Gerhard lived with my family at Normanville SA when I was a child, this was just before he went to Munglinup. Gerhard was like a father to us (I am 65) and like you used to work for him, turning the handle of the concrete mixer etc. He also loved fishing and playing tennis in those days. He worked for a builder . He boarded with my mother, two brothers and I. Mum was widowed very young and was happy for the extra money having a boarder. Gerhard built a canvas canoe once and we used to go there paddling .....Mum always thought he would drown us !!!!

I visited him twice at Munglinup .......never surprised at the state of the place, he was very proud of his achievements, and rightly so."

Location 708 Waverley

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Herbert James Cannard of Elingamite North, via Cobden, Victoria.

Re-Allocated in May 1961 to Ronald Bernard and Lillian Nora Brindley of Esperance , WA.

Children Darlene, Megan and Sharon. 

Ron loved skin diving and owned one of the first Leyland P76’s. Along with Geoff Jamieson and Clive Napier was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Munglinup Golf Club.

Telephone: Munglinup 16

Location 709 Allora

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Leonard Percival Briggs of East Malvern, Victoria.

Re-allocated to Phil Graham and Arthur Graham c1962.

Phil and his wife Cherie's children are David, Vanessa and Ross and Arthur and his wife Barbara's children are Joanne and Alan. 

They arrived in 1964 and were from Foster North, Gippsland in Victoria.

Telephone: Munglinup 20

Doyle Road

Location 712

Allocated 16 September 1958 to Laurence William Berquist and Elizabeth Berquist of Condobolin, NSW.

Re-Allocated in May 1961 to Phillip Charles Giles who was born in Fremantle WA (1927-2007) and wife Muriel Mabel Giles.

The were from Balkuling, WA. Children Sue, Peter, Les, Kathy, Andy and Jenny.

Phil drove the School bus for the Western side of Munglinup.

Arrived before 1963.

Location 741 Baroona

Allocated in October 1959 to Wallace Salkeld (1927-1991) and Norma Joan Deane (1932-2012 ) with sons Wally and James. They arrived 20 January 1964 from Axedale near Bendigo Victoria. Great community members being involved in Football, Golf and Cricket as well as the P&C and CWA.

Young Wally Deane has written a Tribute to his parents and provided photos HERE

Telephone: Munglinup 1

Location 749 Ivanhoe Farm

Allocated in October 1959 to Philip Francis (31 May 1926 - 1 Nov 2012) and Marie Lorraine Doyle (c1933 - 21 June 2013) of Ivanhoe, NSW.  Children Phil, Stephanie, Louise, Rod and Jane. Phil was born in Quambatook Victoria. He originally worked as a Shearer before serving in the Navy 1945 - 1947 and after this was a Water Boring Contractor prior to becoming a Farmer at Munglinup. Phil arrived in 1960 and was one of the men to build the first School.

Telephone: Munglinup 12D

Location 748 Elimatta

Allocated in October 1959 to Edward McLaughlin of Griffith, NSW.

Re-allocated in May 1961 to Hermann Albert and Gertrud Maria Meyer nee Meissner of Nowra, NSW. They arrived from Germany 3 July 1955 on the M.S. Skaubryn.

Later Hermann married his second wife Christa.

Telephone: Munglinup 21U

Location 746 Wesgrove

Allocated in October 1959 to Charles Henry Beddoes of Gosford, NSW.

Re-allocated in May 1961 to  Arvon Eric and June Margaret Cunningham who arrived 1961. Both were very involved in Community activities. Arvon attended pretty much every working bee at Munglinup and along with Jack Collins, Jack Compagnoni and Geoff Jamieson planted the magnificent eucalyptus trees opposite the Roadhouse. I remember playing cricket with Arvon. He always fielded at Point smoking a "rolly" and was the worlds best late cutter.

Telephone: Munglinup 22

Location 742

Allocated in October 1959 to John Herman Baensch of Bentleigh, Victoria.

Re-allocated in May 1961 to  Edgar William Cunningham of Esperance, WA.

Robert Clive Cunningham and wife Janice Betty nee Barrett. Bob was Captain of the Cricket Team for a few years.

Location 745

Robert Lyall Lawrance (1934-1973) and wife Avril Lawrance of Lucindale, SA. They arrived 1962.

Avril continued to run the property with her young children after Bob died in 1973.

Children Rosalie, Bill, Scott, Mandy and Robert. 

Telephone: Munglinup 2

Location 739 and 740 Green Valley

739 was allocated in October 1959 to Ernest Lynch of Dulwich Hill, Sydney, NSW.

Re-allocated in 1962 to Maurice Arthur (Morrie) Cowell (1906-1991) and Grace Mary Cowell nee Skinner (1908-1992). Their son was Tim Ernest Cowell (1945-2010). Grace was the Church Organist. Arrived from Camden NSW 1964.

740 was allocated to Richard Campbell Barber of Berremangna, NSW and re-allocated in May 1961 to William Charles Watts of Grose Vale, NSW. Sometime later allocated to the Cowells.

Telephone: Munglinup 13

Location 750 Merri Merri

Allocated in October 1959 to Peter Miles and Mardi Louise Standish. Peter arrived 1957 and Lu in 1963.

Children Russell, Mark and Tony. Peter helped build the first School in 1960 and Lu was a Teacher later on. Lu has compiled Pete's Munglinup Story which can be read by clicking on the following link.  Early Munglinup - Pete Standish

Click on the following link for a wonderful story written in 1965 by Lu on what it was like to be a young bride at early Munglinup. Lu Standish the Bush Bus Bride

Telephone: Munglinup 12K

Location 747

Allocated in October 1959 to James Neville Fitzpatrick of Ivanhoe, NSW the brother of Lorraine Doyle.

Lester Stephen Cotton and his wife Barbara Ann bought this property when it was sold early on. Children Elizabeth, Catherine and Patricia.

Telephone: Munglinup 21D

South Coast Highway

Location 743 Korchula

Allocated in October 1959 to Jim (1931-2016) and Waltraud (Vera) Segedin (1926-2005) and their son James. In Jim's own words "I took up the block in 1959 and had the first 500 acres developed in absentia by contract. My father Ivan and I came over to build the original shearing shed and living quarters the following year in 1960 and in 1963 we moved to the farm permanently as a family. I named our farm "Korchula" in recognition of the island in Croatia that my father came from."

They came from Broken Hill in NSW and Vera was born in Germany. Jim was a Bookkeeper/Accountant and was one of very few who were allocated a block without some farming experience. Jim was also member of the Hugh Robinson Farm Management Group. Jim was an excellent Baseballer, Cricketer and also was a registered Actor. Vera was a Nurse in Broken Hill when she married Jim in 1960.

Telephone: Munglinup 3

Location 738 Barwidgee

Allocated in October 1959 to David Leslie Horton of Condobolin, NSW.

Later re-allocated to Nels (Neil) and Dawn Catherine Peterson nee Potter. Children Chris and Jeni.

Arrived from Victoria in July 1963.

Dawn has made the following contribution and submitted many photos that can be seen here Neil and Dawn Peterson's Photos from Munglinup.

"You wanted to know how we found Munglinup. We saw an ad in the Country paper and Neil said “I think I have some cousins in the Esperance area” so rang his Uncle in Denliquin to ask and as it turned out John Brown of Neridup was there on Holidays and of course said to Neil come on over. At the time we had a dairy farm at Myrtleford so got someone to milk for a couple of weeks and off we took. We were impressed with the country so put in for the block 738 and were lucky enough to draw it in the ballot. We arrived at Neridup in July 1963 (I think) after the Cunningham brothers had burnt 600 acres for us. We bought a Chamberlain 9G which Neil drove home from Perth picking up a big long trailer at Lake Grace on his way. We developed the whole block and by 1988 Neils health wasn’t the best so sold out to Fox Slaters. We spent 5 years in Perth where he had a car trailer business. We got itchy feet so moved back east to Kyogle NSW and started farming again on 300 acres breeding cattle. Neil retired once again and leased the farm and built a house at Alstonville NSW (Near Ballina). Then moved to Twin waters, Queensland on the Sunshine Coast. Then to a acre at Mooloolah Queensland. Finally in 2013 we moved to a retirement village at Rosemount Queensland near Nambour. Poor health caught up with him and he died after getting everything done for me at the village on the 28th August, 2014. I am fortunate in having Chris just living 15 minutes or so from me. We travelled a bit in between times and went to Singapore, New Zealand and Canada and twice around Australia so we had a wonderful life and will always remember Munglinup with great joy. We went to Comps 50th anniversary and met up with all old friends and neighbours which was wonderful.

I only wish we knew of your Munglinup Pioneers before Neil died for he would have enjoyed it to no end."

Telephone: Munglinup 4

Location 735 Wyreema

Allocated in October 1959 to Geoffrey Robert Jamieson (1931-2007) and wife Gwenda May Jamieson nee Conway of Munro, Victoria.

Children Dianne, Daryl, Ken, Ian, Colin and Bruce. Geoff arrived on his block in 1960 and worked in the area on and off until his family arrived May 1965. Following the unexpected death of Geoff's mother in November 1965, who was his guarantor, the Block was sold to Phillip John Young from Bordertown South Australia on the 18 April 1966. The Bank showing great compassion insisted on the full repayment of the loan balance within 3 months of Geoff's mothers death. Similarly the Lands Department failed to distinguish themselves initially refusing permission to sell the property and by putting a limit on how much the block could be sold for. The Property was occupied for many years by Hugh Robinson and Co Pastoral Consultants and Managers who managed many properties in the area for absentee owners. Phil Young was a director of Hugh Robinson & Co along with Hugh W Robinson, Newton S Tiver and Christopher K Shearer.

The original School building is still located on this block having served as a bedroom for Daryl, Ken and Ian Jamieson.

The property is now known as "Kyby Downs".

Telephone: Munglinup 6U

Location 734

Allocated in October 1959 to Peter and Joyce Jamieson (1937-2009) of Blackburn, Victoria. Children Graeme, Neil, Brian and Carolyn. They arrived 28th Dec 1964 and left in 1966.

Richard Gordon Field from Tasmania bought the farm in 1967 and called it "Bustmegutup." It was featured in the Australian Post Magazine and most tourist and rail buses stopped to take photos of the sign for many years. The property is now known as "Richfields".

Telephone: Munglinup 6K

Location 736

Allocated in October 1959 to George Burnett Murison of Nanneella, Victoria. John Murison who later married Helen Gay Hyland ran the farm.

Children Robert, Penny and David. John arrived in the early 1960s.

Telephone: Munglinup 6D

Location 733 Dunromin

Allocated in October 1959 to Kevin Roy Jenkins (1928-2007) and June Jenkins of Willaura, Victoria.

Children Kelvin, Jennifer Anne (1951- 2009) and Ian.

Telephone: Munglinup 6R

Location 761, 762 and 763 Nairnup

Charles Ross (Charlie) Gibson (1913-1970) and his wife Elsie Vera Smith (1912 -1995) . One of the very early settlers in the area arrived 1956 after taking over the lease from Blake and Dunn. Charlie set up OD Transport with Bob Walker, John Christoff, John Langer, Ross Sinagra, Doug Parsons and Keith Hawkins and OD began the Perth Esperance Perth daily service from 15 January 1968. It ran 6 days per week leaving each end at 10pm and arriving at 8am daily. A truly remarkable and valuable service that change the community dramatically.

John (Jack) Robert George Pettigrew (1924 -1978) and his wife Una Olive nee Rosewarne (1920 -1998) were caretakers of this property in the late 1950s and 1960 and their daughter Julie Pettigrew was a founding student at Munglinup Primary School.

Ronald Charles and Gwen Gibson. Children Ross, Craig, Gavin and Kylie arrived 1966 from Ravensthorpe.

Robert Murray Gibson (1947 - 1990) wife Patsy. Children Rob Tamika and Mandy

Allan and Maxine Gibson. Children Colin and Suzanne. Early on Allan drove a truck from Ravensthorpe to Esperance every day.

Telephone: Munglinup 6S

Coxall Road

Location 752 Wilga Bank

Allocated in October 1959 to Ronald Gerald Casey of Oberon, NSW.

Re-allocated in May 1961 to Ralph Henry (1926-2014) and Ada Ellen Silburn of Ivanhoe, NSW. Children Katherine, Janet and Robyn. Arrived 1961. Ralph and Ada were pioneers of tree planting to limit wind erosion and provide shelter belts for stock. They later won the AFG WA Tree Farmer of the Year Award in 2008.

Telephone: Munglinup 18D

Location 751

Allocated in October 1959 to Anthony Mitchell Tonkin of Manilla, NSW.

Re-allocated to Douglas and Ruth Edith Grace nee Elliott Coxall Children Colin, Annette, Glenda and Darryl.

They arrived by 1961 and initially worked at Torradup living in the Nissen Hut. They moved away from Munglinup in 1968.

Telephone: Munglinup 18K

Location 753 Edinglassie

Allocated in October 1959 to Kenneth William Clancy of Gunning, NSW.

Re-allocated in May 1961 to John Russell (Jack) (1915-1993) and Stella Blanche Collins nee Gibbons (1917-2005) of Merriwa NSW.

Children Gloria, Ivan, Richard and Fay. Gloria Collins married Tim Cowell and were the second couple married in the St Pauls Munglinup. They arrived 1965.

Telephone: Munglinup 18U

Location 737

Allocated in October 1959 to Phillip Edward Michael Bourke of Koroit, Victoria.

Re-allocated in May 1961 to Henry Thomas Stanley of Harrow, Victoria.

Re-allocated in March 1966 to Phillip Louis (1939-1985) and Elizabeth Jean Lawrance of Munglinup, WA. Children Ben, Glenn, Suzanne and Tony. Lou also drove a Stock truck.

Location 755

Allocated in October 1959 to Walter Charles Allan (Charlie) Scadding (1934-1999) and Elvie May Scadding. Children Frank, Gary, Ralph and Karen. Charlie arrived from Kulin in 1959 with the family coming in 1962.

Telephone: Munglinup 14K

Location 757 Buninyong

Allocated in October 1959 to Alexander Cedric Coxall (1927-1981) and Lilian Jean Coxall nee Sutherland.

Children Robert, Denis, Ian, Jeanette and Russell. They arrived February 1963 from Buninyong Victoria.

Alex designed and built the first "Dunny" for the first school.

Telephone: Munglinup 14D

Location 756 Shirilee

Allocated in October 1959 to Donald Balfour Grigg of Mosman Park, WA. This farm was later owned by Paul Sachse. 

Peter Muir who married Don Grigg's daughter Leslie managed this property for a time. Later Dave Burton and his wife Sue were on the property.

Ron and Lorraine Davis and their children Michelle, Caron, Lisa and Sydney leased this property from 1976 for a number of years.

Telephone: Munglinup 14U

Location 754 Shaster Downs

Allocated in October 1959 to Clement Heinrich of Yarwun, Queensland.

Later sold on to Noel William Sharp before 1968

Location 938 and Others Fielder Downs

To the west of Coxall Road at the intersection of Middle Road and Bedford Harbour Road Fielder Downs was a large property of some 17778 acres consisting of 8 contiguous blocks established by the George Fielder Group in 1966. Initially established to grow a newly developed type of subterranean clover known as ``Uniwager'', which could reduce clover infertility disease in ewes. Eric Turner and his wife Pam with their sons Peter, Gary and Wayne were there from 1966. William Crossley and his wife Winifred was a Manager there from around 1968. Children Charles and Susan.

North of the Highway

According to Jack Compagnoni these blocks were surveyed in 1964 and were originally part of Esperance Plains Pty Ltd (The Chase Syndicate) and later run by the Esperance Land and Development Company (ELD) which commenced operation in 1960. So in 1960 for about 18 miles (29 km) north of the highway from the Young River to the Rabbit Proof fence became ELD optioned land with the exception of Nairnup. Blake Senior (c1936-2011) was Manager of ELD 1965-1991 and he wrote in "Faith Hope and Reality" Published by the Esperance Shire Council 1995. "The agreement stated in broad outline that ELD had to apply for and receive a Permit to Occupy for 100,000 acres each year until all the land had been taken up. These 100,000 acre parcels would be subdivided by the Lands Department into viable farm units according to rainfall and soil type. ELD was then responsible for developing one third of each farm through to pasture, building sheds, dams and fences where necessary. ELD had the right to retain half of each area taken up and run its own farming enterprise. It had to offer the other half for sale within 10 years of a Permit to Occupy being granted."

Munglinup Farmers managed by Bruce Hutchinson, Soothsay, Ned's Corner and Eric Howells block where early developments to the east of the Munglinup River. To the west the Reynolds and Rawlinsons where in the area in the mid to late 1960s.

Location 857

George Charles Henry Reynolds (1912-1982) and wife Doreen Heather Reynolds.

Children John, Greg, Stephen, Chris, Andy and Debbie.

Arrived by 1966. Originally from Metung Victoria

Telephone: Munglinup 26

Location 1001 Lambrigg Downs

Brian and Joyce Rawlinson nee Pooley from Kendal England migrated to WA on the Fairstar from Southampton in 1967.  Children Stephen, Clive and Pat. Their property was on Rockhole Road at the junction with Rawlinson Road. They arrived April 1968. They purchased Location 1134 in 1972 from the original owner Peter Leech from South Australia which is located at the junction of Rawlinson Road and Melaleuca Road.

Location 858 Munji Downs

Originally owned by Reece Price and later Managed by Hugh Robinson and CO for Dr JC Bremner.

Locations 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 870 and 911 Munglinup Farmers

Bruce Hutchinson and his wife Judy were in the district around 1966. Bruce was Manager of Munglinup Farmers. Children Lisa and Tracey.

Telephone: Munglinup 7D

Note these were the original allocations and later 865 and 870 were allocated to others.

Locations 865, 867 and 868 Soothsay

Managed by Peter and Valda Gratton. Children Jennifer, Jane, Robert and Richard

Telephone: Munglinup 7K

Location 869

Eric Clifford and Beverley Maureen Howell nee Brennan from Werneth Victoria arrived late 1960s. Child Reginald Scott Howell.

Location 1008

Bill Muntz had the farm on the north side of the highway from Murisons and next to Gibsons was later purchased by Gibsons. At various times Allan and Bob Gibson lived on the property.

Location 1009 and 1011

Ian Thomas Harvey (dec) and his wife Joan (dec) managed the property belonging to Dr Neil Beck and  ? Neaves. Children were Doug, Anne and Linda. Arrived 1970 and left around 1973. Location 1009 later leased by Syd Hanna and Avril Lawrence.

Location 1014 Nick and Heather Laycock 

Arrived 1971. They were from South Australia.

Joyce Rawlinson prepared the following list of Locations and their owners in 1968 for the Dallinup Sub Division along Rawlinson Road from West Point Road, down Rockhole Road, then along Rawlinson Road again and down Melaleuca Road. "During the period 1968-1972 that most of the blocks owned by absentee owners in the northern area were managed by Hugh Robinson & Co who opened their first office on Phil Young's and later moved to the townsite to the house which was orginally owned by Barlow's. By 1974 the Munglinup office was closed as most of the farms had managers by then and only the Esperance office remained open for a few more years to oversee the managers.  So there was a great deal of contract work to be had in the area in the sixties and early seventies."

Location 1128 Martin Van Leeuwin

Location 996 Hugh Rennie

Location 997 Maxwell Szulc

Location 998 Dr Dorrington

Location 999 Richard Field and Tom Walker

Location 1000 Murray Haddrick from Williams

Location 1002 R Mills and D Hines from Quirindi NSW

Locations 1003, 1004 and 1133 Oldfield Pastoral Company Bob Walker and John Cristoff.

Location 986 - 995 West Point Pastoral Company

Location 1013 Warren Rigney

Location 1005 Angus Munro from Coonamble NSW

Location 1012 Melaleuca Pastoral Company managed by Roger McCallum

Location 1006 Orandeen Pastoral Company D H Alltree and Warren Rigney

Location 1007 RG Mathews a Vet from South Australia

Location 1009 and 1011 Beck and Neaves

Location 858 and 1010 Dr JC Bremner

Location 1135 Munglinup Station

Munglinup Townsite Pioneers and Others

Latitude 33° 43' S Longitude 120° 52' E

The townsite of Munglinup is located in the south coastal region, 622 km south east of Perth between Ravensthorpe and Esperance. When the district was being opened up for farming in the late 1950s/early 1960s the local community sought the declaration of a townsite between Esperance and Ravensthorpe. The survey of Locations was carried out in 1961, and the townsite gazetted in 1962. Munglinup is a local Aboriginal word, first shown on plans in 1868, and was believed to have been recorded by the Dempster Brothers who were the first settlers in the area.

George Burnett Murison (1909-1991) and his wife Jean Isobel (1912- 2006) built the Mobil Roadhouse and provided Mobil fuels to the district and were the agents for Elders GM. Everyone will remember the iconic Mobil sign with the red Pegasus. They provided the first Power Supply on the Townsite. George also drove a school bus for the eastern side of Munglinup. They provided School lunches and from 30 March 1965 also had the inaugural Telephone Exchange which was the old plug board system until the automatic exchange was installed near the Golf Course in 1970. They arrived from Victoria in 1963. George was born in Aberdeenshire Scotland.

Telephone: Munglinup 31

Russell Burnett and Rosemary Paula Murison nee Sterne. Children Paula and Candice. Russell was the Mobil Fuel agent and had a Depot at Lot 9 Poot St Munglinup. In the early days he delivered fuel on a Bedford 8 ton Cab Over, then a Ford D Line Cab over then he went to a Scania. Russell loved his fast cars and owned many classics including a Cortina GT and a Candy Apple Red GT Falcon XT. It was in the GT that I first travelled at 120mph! I remember on one occasion c1968 Russell and Joe Riggs decided they would take my brother Ken and me to the "Drives" in Esperance to see the Hitchcock classic Psycho. Russell always thinking, had Joe drive us all in his Hillman Hunter instead of the new XT. It turned out to be a very good call as Joe had a fairly big cleaning job to do on the backseat of his car the next day. I'm not sure if it's true but Ken told me both front seats needed attention too! Scared the crap out of us!

Geoffrey Robert (1931-2007) and Gwenda May Jamieson (1932-2017) set up a Wesfarmers, BP and Kleenheat Gas agency with depot and shopfront in Hall St in 1969. He also provided cartage services for the district. Beginning on the 8th May 1970 their daughter Dianne was responsible for taking the Munglinup weather readings 3 times daily for the Bureau of Meteorology. Apart from the School House, in 1968 they built the first actual house on the Townsite at 28 Manjart St. Gwen was the School Cleaner early on and both were very active in the community. Click here for a  Tribute to Geoffrey Robert Jamieson written by Munglinup Community members.

Telephone: Munglinup 36

Don and Henrietta MacKenzie set up a House and shed and were the Shell agent. Children Duncan, Graham and Sheila. Don was a mechanic and School Bus Driver. Arrived 1967 from Kenya. Took over Phil Giles School Bus Run in 1968 operating for the next 32 years.

George Mervyn (Merv) Doak Bulldozer operator and was responsible for many of the dams in the district. Lived in Katanning but had Lot 10 on the Townsite by 1968.

Ian Ross worked with Merv Doak.

Geoffrey Donald and Margaret Jean Pickersgill nee Fuss. Children Greg, Allan, Wayne, Mal and Nita. Geoff worked with Ken Fuss and provided mechanical services to the district.